ADV: Mufi and Neil might “persuade the voters to hate both of them”

Four years ago, no big-name Democrats wanted to stick their hands in the whirling blades of the powerful Lingle re-election machine, a tribute to their personal safety-first mindset.

So now we come to 2010 and the big Democrats are back in the game. The problem this time is that the biggest threat is an internal one, that the antagonism between Mufi Hannemann and Neil Abercrombie runs so deeply and personally that they might just manage to persuade the voters to hate both of them….

...the candidates can't even stand being in the same room together.

Both are already jabbing each other for being "quitters," bailing out on their offices to run for governor. It's a legitimate issue for the campaign, but it's not the only issue.

We (Democrat Advertiser Editors) hope leaders of both campaigns appreciate the doctrine of mututally assured destruction, understanding that deploying the "quitter" weapon will only ensure that the other side drops it just as often.

IGNORE THIS: Mufi’s Atomic Monkey Exposed: Website calls Abercrombie a “flailing gasbag”, wife “a witch”, AtomicMonkey responds: “Some of us work for the City…we proudly stand by description of Abercrombie as ‘flailing gasbag’”

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Aiona promoting summer job program for teens

Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona is urging nonprofit groups to enroll in a summer youth employment program and take on young workers through Sept. 30.

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5 political veterans vying for Honolulu mayoral seat

Prevedouros, meanwhile, is the only one of the candidates to clearly distinguish himself from the others on the issue of Hannemann's $5.4 billion mass-transit project. Prevedouros stands alone in opposing what will be the state's largest capital improvements project ever. He finished third in the 2008 mayoral election behind Hannemann and Kobayashi.

"Panos has the possibility of mobilizing the people in that particular group, that could make a difference," Milner said.

Besides being attractive to anti-rail voters, Prevedouros may also capitalize on being the only one of the five to have never held elective office, which may have some appeal for those seeking someone outside the norm….

Prevedouros said there has not been enough discussion on other viable options. One might be using the old OR&L rail line that runs from Downtown Honolulu to Wai'anae. A form of at-grade light rail line could run along that route. "It's very obvious that rail alignment has never been studied in detail," he said.

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Candidates Scramble For Ed Case's Voters

"I am going to first start by talking to Ed as soon as I can get an appointment to see him, and also to talk to some of his key supporters to get a better feel for what exactly are the differences between us and how deep those differences are," said Hanabusa…. (She can’t even get an appointment to see Ed Case)

"When it comes to Democrats who support Ed, I would like to believe the core Democratic principals are still there," said Hanabusa. (But she’s not sure.)

University of Hawaii professor and political analyst (and self-described leftist) Neal Milner said he can't imagine a significant number of Case voters voting for Djou. Milner said Djou's votes after being sworn in to congress show him to be a very traditional Republican which will make him unattractive to many of Hawaii's moderate Democrats.  (Which votes?)

Djou's supporters said Monday they think they can siphon off Case supporters to Djou in the general election.

Djou's campaign manager Dylan Nonaka believes enough Case voters will vote for Djou in the general election for him to win.

"I think a Case voter is someone who is somewhat more moderate, someone who does not like the establishment, does not like the way things have been for the last 50 years, someone who understands that the status quo is not working and does not like to be told what to do by U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye, former governors and other power brokers in the Democrat Party and so they are very likely to be a Djou voter," said Nonaka.

Case could not be reached by telephone Monday to comment. (And he’s not going to be around to help Colleen in spite of his announcement that he “does not hate” her.)

Nonaka said in the end it is Djou who will benefit most from Case-Hanabusa's philosophical differences.

"I fully believe Charles can take a third of Case voters over to his side to give him 50 percent to win," said Nonaka.

Ed Case quits race: “Dream of a better way forward” crushed by Hawaii Democrat old boys (again)

Hawaii Democrats focus on suicide, taxes, and gay marriage

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SB: Case leaves race with sound advice

In withdrawing from the primary race, Case urged Hanabusa to "listen, adopt and incorporate, espouse, motivate and commit and you will win. Don't, and you will have a very difficult election."

Hanabusa arises from the liberal mold of the state Democratic establishment, which embraced her in large part because of Case's unsuccessful challenge of Sen. Daniel Akaka in the 2006 election. She recognizes that Case "is expecting me to listen to and appeal to his voting base," but that will not be easy for a candidate with a track record….

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